Toy gun tragedy

A tragic story unfolded in Cedar City this week, where a girl accidentally shot and paralyzed her brother. According to reports, the children were engaged in a fight with Airsoft guns and she picked up a real loaded gun thinking it was one of the toy guns with plastic pellets. Here’s the story: http://www.ksl.com

As a parent, I can think of few things more horrifying than this, and I feel so sorry for the family.

This story also struck a nerve with me because I hate Airsoft guns. I don’t understand how letting children play with guns that look exactly like real guns can be condoned and even encouraged by parents. I hate when kids point toy guns at me, especially with the new toys that are so lifelike and actually shoot pellets.

Even though Airsoft guns don’t kill anyone, they can easily cause fatal confusion with real guns.

Even the county sheriff in this case said he’s concerned about Airsoft guns and that teenagers have been shooting at each other from their cars. The sheriff noted that if a kid tried that on a police office, he might end up being shot for real.

I realize I’m coming at this from the viewpoint of a woman who was raised with only sisters and now have only a daughter, so toy guns never appealed to me. So tell me what you think — are toy firearms like Airsoft guns just a harmless boyhood rite of passage, or are they a danger?